OT: Body odor in a young child?

snoopy5386

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Aug 12, 2003
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I noticed the other day that my oldest DD who just turned 7 a month ago has developed noticeable adult like BO. I was very shocked! Is this the start of puberty already? She's very small for her age, 50 lbs and 48 inches and I'm terrified that she could be starting puberty already. She's so young and so very small. She was on an every other day bathing schedule, but we've upped to once a day and the odor is still there. I'm going to call her pediatrician and discuss this with him, but I wanted to see if others had similar experiences.
 
Yes I have this with both kids age 7 and 5. It's not all the time. We occasionally use a natural deodorant that doesn't contain aluminum. We have also tried changing to organic milk and chicken to see if diet makes a difference. It seems to be more common for younger children to have grown up body odor.
 
In general puberty hits when they reach the hundred pound park. However, I have kids with body door in my grade one and two classes. None of them developed other signs until late grade four, or grade five. It's happening younger and younger as we are eating better and growing taller.
 
My daughter has been using deodorant since a few months before her 6th birthday. She could shower and an hour later, smell like BO. It's happening earlier and earlier, doc told me he has a lot of ped patients who are starting their periods as early as late in the 8th year before they turn 9!!!!! It's so scary
 

I noticed the other day that my oldest DD who just turned 7 a month ago has developed noticeable adult like BO. I was very shocked! Is this the start of puberty already? She's very small for her age, 50 lbs and 48 inches and I'm terrified that she could be starting puberty already. She's so young and so very small. She was on an every other day bathing schedule, but we've upped to once a day and the odor is still there. I'm going to call her pediatrician and discuss this with him, but I wanted to see if others had similar experiences.

My dd started having body odour last summer when she was 6. I mentioned it to her doctor at her annual check up and she said to watch for other signs of puberty (breast buds, pubic or underarm hair) and if I noticed those than to bring her in, but other than that, not to worry. During the winter,it wasn't as frequent, but now that the warmer weather is arriving, I use a natural deodorant for her. I am bracing myself for early puberty though.
 
Yes, my 8 YO DD has body odour and wears natural deodorant with no aluminum. It does not work as well as the other deodorant but I cannot bear to put that on her yet.

And yes it was a bit shocking when it dawned on me that she needed it. I was a fairly young smeller too as my mom tells me so I don't think it is necessarily just an issue with today's kids.
 
Yes I have this with both kids age 7 and 5. It's not all the time. We occasionally use a natural deodorant that doesn't contain aluminum. We have also tried changing to organic milk and chicken to see if diet makes a difference. It seems to be more common for younger children to have grown up body odor.

Did you find it made a difference?
 
my nephews (twins about to turn 14) were always playing hard on recess and participated in sports so they had that wet puppy little boy smell early but honestly I've not noticed them being stinky as preteens and now teenagers. One nephew hit puberty at 11 the other has just hit this year (13). They are both still active. One hates to shower and one is showering and re doing his hair everytime you turn around. Maybe it's just body chemistry.

Maybe try different soap or lotion to make sure she's not getting blocked pores or it's mixing with sweat if she's active.

Also food can play a huge role in smell. Garlic, onions, broccoli, all can make you smell.
 
Yes I have this with both kids age 7 and 5. It's not all the time. We occasionally use a natural deodorant that doesn't contain aluminum. We have also tried changing to organic milk and chicken to see if diet makes a difference. It seems to be more common for younger children to have grown up body odor.

We have always done organic milk and hormone free/grassfed/local meats for this reason and she was breastfed, so no formula either. And yet here we are!
 
Yes I have this with both kids age 7 and 5. It's not all the time. We occasionally use a natural deodorant that doesn't contain aluminum. We have also tried changing to organic milk and chicken to see if diet makes a difference. It seems to be more common for younger children to have grown up body odor.

Happened at age 6. We changed to organic milk thinking that was it, but really not much difference. The biggest difference came with change in shampoo and soap. Went to all organic and that made huge difference. Really not an issue now.
 
2 things: Baking Soda and Rubbing Alcohol ;0) Both DS and older DD started to have A little BO around age 6. Took them to the doctors and asked ? Was told they were too young for regular Deodorant but to try a cotton ball soaked with alcohol rubbed under the puts right after a bath or shower about twice a week then give a lite daily dusting of Baking Soda. Worked like a charm but DS is now 10 and very very active in sports and out door activities so he has been upgraded to the Tom's natural deodorant. The occasional alcohol rub and baking soda is still working for the older DD though. Itty Bitty is still baby fresh so far at least for now... Lol!
 
In general puberty hits when they reach the hundred pound park. However, I have kids with body door in my grade one and two classes. None of them developed other signs until late grade four, or grade five. It's happening younger and younger as we are eating better and growing taller.

Puberty has nothing to do with body weight. My daughter is under 80 pounds and is starting. I had friends that weren't even 100 pounds when we graduated high school! And the reason that puberty is happening earlier is exactly opposite of eating 'better'. It is due to hormones that are added to beef and chicken.
 
snoopy5386 said:
I noticed the other day that my oldest DD who just turned 7 a month ago has developed noticeable adult like BO. I was very shocked! Is this the start of puberty already? She's very small for her age, 50 lbs and 48 inches and I'm terrified that she could be starting puberty already. She's so young and so very small. She was on an every other day bathing schedule, but we've upped to once a day and the odor is still there. I'm going to call her pediatrician and discuss this with him, but I wanted to see if others had similar experiences.

I'm sorry but I dont see the big deal. Buy her deodorant.
My DD was around 7 when she started using it. She's almost 10 now.
She showers every day and regularly uses deodorant.

My son who's 15 now started around 6 or 7.

DD's friends have all been using deodorant for a few years already too. No other signs of puberty yet ( knock on wood)
 
Sounds normal. My kids were both 8 and 9 when we started using deodorant. My son uses axe and my daughter uses dial for girls. I like the smell of hers. :)
 
Freesia123 said:
In general puberty hits when they reach the hundred pound park. However, I have kids with body door in my grade one and two classes. None of them developed other signs until late grade four, or grade five. It's happening younger and younger as we are eating better and growing taller.

Weight has nothing to do with puberty. I developed breast and had my period before I ever hit 100lbs.
 
I'd just take this as an opportunity to teach them good hygiene habits young. It's common for kids in their teens to rebel against showering and deodorant (never been able to figure that out though...) so maybe getting them started on it at 6 or 7 will be beneficial in the long run as it won't be a new routine introduced at a hectic time in their life. It'll just be something they'll always remember having done.
 
There's a book called "Death by Rubber Duck" that talks a lot about plastics/BPA/sulfites causing many issues, including early onset puberty.

I might suggest switching soaps & shampoos. Dr Bronners is a great all purpose, liquid soap. As for shampoo, there are a lot of brands on the market but I haven't found one I really love. Skip the bubble bath, cut out the plastic bottles and plates. Plus, a diet lower in processes sugars and carbs can help control hormone levels.

I know it all sounds very hippie/crunchy, but its rooted in science. In the meantime, my sympathies to parents and kids dealing with it. I went into puberty at around 8 1/2 and have been dealing with PCOS/infertility my whole life, so I have been there. It sucks.
 





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